Date of Graduation

5-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Animal Science

Advisor/Mentor

Powell, Jeremy

Committee Member/Reader

Rosenkrans, Charles F. Jr.

Committee Member/Second Reader

Kutz, Bryan

Abstract

Hoof and udder conformation are important to the longevity and productivity of beef cattle. Selection for hoof and udder quality reduces the incidence of lameness and udder disease to improve animal welfare. Genetic selection is an effective means of improving traits such as these, especially through the use of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping to identify indicator traits. This study used genotype data and hoof and udder scores from previous research to determine if there is significant effect between polymorphisms of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), cytochrome P450 (CYP450), interleukin-8 receptor (IL8), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A), and hoof and udder traits in (n=76) beef cows. The SNP site A1125C of Hsp70 affected hoof angle (P<0.0006) and claw set (P=0.0007). The SNP C994G of Cytochrome P450 affected hoof angle (P<0.0024), and claw set (P=0.0054). The SNP C541A of LDH affected teat size (P<0.0001), and the SNP G777C of IL8 receptor affected udder suspension (P=0.0355). The MTNR1A receptor had two polymorphisms G497A, which affected teat size (P=0.032) and hoof angle (P<0.01), and A455G, which affected udder suspension (P=0.0004) and teat size (P=0.02). These results suggest that Hsp70, CYP450, IL8 receptor, LDH, and MTNR1A genes could be markers for selection of hoof and udder traits in cattle.

Keywords

hoof traits; udder traits; polymorphisms; beef genetics

Included in

Beef Science Commons

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